Cataracts and Prednisone

[Sangye]

We've had several members get cataracts due to prednisone. Today I got an email newsletter from JHU that lists the 5 common causes of cataracts. Here's (http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/vision/cataracts_statins_3937-1.html?ET=johnshopkins:e45428:1128208a:&st=email&s=EVH_110415_001) the link to read about all of them. I copied the one concerning pred usage.

I'm sharing this because I was always wondering how much pred caused cataracts or if it was totally arbitrary. I thought others might be wondering the same thing.

Cataract Risk Factor #2: Corticosteroids. Long-term use of corticosteroids, especially at high doses, is the most common drug-related cause of cataracts. In a study of individuals taking oral prednisone for one to two years, cataracts developed in 11% of those taking less than 10 mg a day, 30% of those taking 10 to 15 mg a day and 80% of those taking more than 15 mg a day.

Now you know! :smile1:

[pberggren1]

I saw an opthamologist once that said pred does not cause glaucoma and cataracts. Needless to say I did not go back to him.

[Sangye]

LOL Good grief! He must've gotten his degree online.

[pberggren1]

Or maybe he did not get a degree? lol

I think I will ask for a second opinion on my toe nails. I will ask my Wegs doc to get me into see the Podiatrist in town here. I am not totally convinced that the nails have to be removed.

[Chris G]

Thanks for that post Sangye, I've been wondering about pred effects on my eyes, for the last couple of weeks. I think it's time to visit the eye doc just to be safe.

[ArlaMo]

That's kind of depressing as I've been on at least 40mg for a year now. :crying:

[freakyschizogirl]

I've just warned my mum who's been on Pred for a few years too.

Not to be rude was this survey done on people of all ages??

[Sangye]

ArlaMo-- holy cow. That's not good. You definitely need a Wegs specialist!

Sam-- since JHU quoted the study I assume it factored in the age of the patients. I can't imagine that they'd include people who are already at risk of cataracts due to age.

[delorisdoe]

That's kind of depressing as I've been on at least 40mg for a year now. :crying:

get it checked but DONT panic...i was on prednisone for more than 2 years and at times 100mg a day. I was sent to have my eyes checked to makes sure all was okay. halfway through the exam he asked me why exactly i was there. I told reminded him of the wg and the prednisone and he said oh right. he suggested i get tested once a year or as needed while on the prednisone but that my eyes had not at that point suffered.

[Sangye]

Leigh, personally I wouldn't go back to an eye doctor that had to be reminded that you have Wegs. Any of our docs have to be on top of things, knowing exactly what to look for with Wegs. If that diagnosis and your history of pred didn't leap off the page enough for him to have it in mind during the entire exam, it makes me think he can't be trusted with your care.

[delorisdoe]

Leigh, personally I wouldn't go back to an eye doctor that had to be reminded that you have Wegs. Any of our docs have to be on top of things, knowing exactly what to look for with Wegs. If that diagnosis and your history of pred didn't leap off the page enough for him to have it in mind during the entire exam, it makes me think he can't be trusted with your care.

he he...this was 10 years ago and i have not gone back, however i do believe that he meant it sarcastically as in "remind me again why you are here???" my vision was perfect. trust me if i dont like or trust my doctor i do not go back. I ran out of the ent office as he told me to book an exam for 6 months and when i was first diagnosed i went to a team of specialists. one of the two of them sat me down and told me all about lupus never once letting me or the resident interupt her ramble. finally I got angry and said "I have lupus too." I told my other doctor that i did not feel the need to waste my time with her. he agreed.

[Sangye]

ROTFL :laugh:

[drz]

I was lucky enough to have cataracts before the Wegs and prednsone, but so far after a year of prednisone there has been little change in my cataracts. My ophthalmologist suggested that regular cataracts look different from prednisone cataracts although they are treated the same, surgery when vision gets bad enough and then you can't get them again. I had wanted the surgery years ago but my vision wasn't bad enough for the insurance to approve any such surgery.

[Jack]

I think that Pred cataracts progress more quickly than the regular type. I think I was only aware of mine for around a year before surgery.

[ArlaMo]

ArlaMo-- holy cow. That's not good. You definitely need a Wegs specialist!



I've got one - I went to Cleveland Clinic in January. Dr. Langford wanted me to stay on the pred at the same level thru my two rtx infusions (2nd one will be on Wednesday.) and then we'll start to taper. It has probably taken a bit longer than she expected to first get the ok from the pulmonologist and then to get insurance approval, but she was the one that told me to stay on the same dosage.

[Widthofacircle]

Hi All
Just had right eye cataract op today, 6 hours ago. Vision is very blurred. Would be grateful for any info on what to expect and how long to expect recovery to take.
Brendan

[pwc51]

I have pred induced cataracts - vision has deteriorated rapidly in about 9 months. First op is in less than 2 weeks, second is two weeks later. Really looking forward to being able to see again - keen to know the expectation for the recovery process!

[elephant]

The blurriness should be gone in a day or two. If your concerned call you doctor. After my cataract surgery I was able to see.

[DEE]

I had both eyes done this year and like elephant could see straight away ,result wore glasses for fifty years all the time now only need them for reading . Good luck .

[Kami]

Hi All, I have to have cataract surgery on my Right eye in September, from the pred. My opthamologist said that mine is mostly from the IV pred I recieved in the ICU while being diagnosed. He said that your eyes just soak it right in from the IV bag its that bad!!

[Kami]

Me again, I have another question...I have to have surgery in September and the doc says that there are 9 different implants to choose from did anyone that had the surgery opt for the more expensive kind that "focus" so you don't need glasses aftewards or did everyone go with the standard implants. Just curious as the more expensive one is about $3000 that insurance doesn't cover but if you add up the cost of glasses over the next 10 years I would have that covered anyway. Just curios on what everyone has done and what you think. Thanks for sharing with me. Kami

[DEE]

I choose to have a long distance lense put in ,so that I only needed glasses to read with . Everything went great .good luck to you .

[Widthofacircle]

Three days after cataract op on right eye and vision is perfect. Absolutely incredible, can,t wait to get left eye done
Brendan